Garmin-Sharp also confirmed that Martin's team-mate Koldo Fernandez, injured in the same crash during Friday's team time trial, would have an operation on his own broken collarbone at the same time.

Martin, who had been considered among the contenders to win this year's Giro, slipped on a drain cover in wet conditions in Belfast in dramatic crash which brought down three of his team-mates.

The crash has left Garmin-Sharp's plans for the Giro in ruins as they are already two riders down, while 2012 winner Ryder Hesjedal is more than three minutes off the pace after the disastrous time trial.

However, the team's director sportif Charly Wegelius has promised the team will fight on.

"It's heartbreak for Dan in particular, we all know how much this meant to him, but that gives us motivation," he said.

"We'll keep fighting forward. These guys are not just team-mates, they are good friends and we'll all use this as motivation for the next three weeks to shake up the race and create opportunities for ourselves.

"For the team to wait for Dan, for the whole team and the injured who were able to do so - to pick themselves up and press on - shows true courage and character and that's what we will continue to do here."